PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN--Sensational , smart story given sharp treatment from script, direction and actors. A young woman who has been wronged seeks revenge on any number of men who pick her up at a bar thinking she's drunk, but when they get her home and try to take advantage of her, they are in for a rude awakening. This film was surprising all the way for me, with even the downbeat ending a shockingly satisfying moment. Made with style and energy, this film will keep you watching until the end, and keep you thinking about it for weeks. GRADE----------------A
NOMADLAND--Measured, thoughtful, unusual story of a modern, down on her luck woman who decides to lead a nomadic lifestyle out of her van, seeking the company of other like people who often move from trailer park to park, taking temporary work to get by. Frances McDormand gives another interesting portrayal as a woman wanting to live life on her own stubborn terms and some non-actors flesh out the large cast, making the film feel especially realistic. GRADE------------------A-
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH--Engrossing biopic about life and death of a Black Panther leader in the late 1960's Fred Hampton, with a strong acting job by Daniel Kaluuya who appeared in GET OUT 2017, BLACK PANTHER and WIDOWS in 2018 and QUEEN AND SLIM in 2019. I predict an OSCAR for him in the supporting category. GRADE---------------A-
CHAOS WALKING--Creative, and unique science fiction story of a colony of men who live together with out women, but the men all have unfiltered inner thoughts which cannot be repressed and pop out like mind farts, with sometimes hilarious(and sometimes dangerous) results. A young female astronaut crash lands near this colony and needs protection from the male hoards and ends up with a horny and curious teenager played by the most recent SPIDERMAN Tom Holland. Daisy Ridley (from the recent STAR WARS films) is a strong, gritty character, and the two make a likeable team. GRADE------------B+
I CARE A LOT-- Rosamund Pike plays a corrupted court appointed guardian for the elderly, and she uses her position to milk the bank accounts of her clients, but one day she tries to do that to her latest "cherry" (Dianne Weist) and finds herself in deep with a client with unknown ties to danger. It's a lively, fascinating show that is unusual in that there is no GOOD GUY or happy ending for anyone, but if you enjoy nasty characters getting their just desserts you just might have some nasty fun with this one. GRADE-------------------B+
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI--What might have happened if four famous black men had been friends and all met for a night of discussion in Miami in 1964--the four are Cassius Clay (fighter before becoming M. ALI), Jim Brown (actor), Malcolm X (Black political leader) and Sam Cooke (famous singer.) Based on a stage play, the film is well directed by Oscar winning actor Regina King, and there are a lot of interesting ideas floating around, but the film is set in one hotel room and one rooftop and is very talky. But the actors, however, are all fascinating to watch. GRADE--------------------------B
THE DIG--Modest but moving film based on a true story of wealthy widow Edith Pretty (played by Carey Mulligan, also the star of PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN above) and archaeologist Basil Brown (played by Ralph Fiennes) during WWII when she hires him to explore and dig into several mounds (small hills) on her property, and he discovers some remarkable finds. GRADE----------B
THE MARKSMAN--Here's a smooth, solid chase film with the predictably fine Liam Neeson as an ex-sharp shooter from the military trying to protect a young, motherless illegal Mexican who is being chased by the evil Mexican cartel and the clueless US agents who only want to send him back. Predictable but effectively intense. GRADE-------------B
NEWS OF THE WORLD--Tom Hanks is the star, but the film is stolen by a young German girl (played by newcomer Helena Zengel) with almost no dialogue who has been kidnapped by Indians for over five years and now after the Civil War he has decided to return her to some relatives over a hundred miles away. Visually the film looks good with lovely Southwest Arizona western settings, but the director Paul Greenfield likes to use a cinematographer who films hand held on roller skates having taken acid--the camera giggles and wiggles and jerks in nearly every scene. Also, the plot points come telegraphed well in advance. GRADE---------------------B-
HERSELF--A young woman leaves an abusive relations with her two young daughters, and attempts to build a house on her own because the system has let her down. GRADE-----------------B-
THE LITTLE THINGS---Denzel Washington and Rami Malek (Oscar winner for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY) are good together as cops seeking a serial killer, but half way through, Jared Leto comes onto the screen and really burns it up as their leading suspect. The film backs off being sensational preferring to be low key. I could have used a little more oomph! GRADE------------C+
SUPERNOVA--Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci play longtime lovers who take a road trip, but one of them is dying of dementia, affecting their love. It's a simple story told in a low key manner, and it left me unaffected. GRADE------------C+
WONDER WOMAN 1984--Not as good as the original WW from several years ago, but Gal Godot gives it her all, and she's beautiful to look at. Likeable Chris Pine is also back as the BF (don't ask), and Kristin Wiig has fun with her evil character, and Pedro Pascal is just right as the mad man trying to control the world (what's new?). So what's the problem ? Mostly the chaotic pacing, unbelievable script and loud action sequences, as if to wake us from the talkie parts. GRADE-------------C+
The above films are all either showing on some newly opened theatre screens (in fact I saw most of them on movie screens with fewer than 15 patrons wearing masks, or streaming (One Night, I CARE a LOT, THE DIG) but there are soooo many streaming services (ie. HULU, Apple +. Disney, Netflix, Prime Video, Brit Box, Peacock, ETC ETC ETC) that I can't keep track to advise you which to search. Some films play on more than one service, or they move around. I have only three services (Netflix and Prime which includes Brit Box and Peacock) but sometimes streaming is free for a week or so. Also you can look up a certain film on Google and it will tell you where you can see it. GOOD LUCK!
Below are films that I viewed from my own private DVD collection, but a handful I streamed from Peacock or other services. These are all oldies but goodies.
SHOP AROUND THE CORNER 1940--Two retail workers hate each other on the job, unaware that they are pen pals through the mail. Much of the film is set at the Christmas season, and the wonderful cast includes Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan and Frank Morgan (the great wizard in OZ). I got a Blu-Ray copy that looks great and I laughed and cried all the way through this romantic comedy. GRADE---A
MR SKEFFINGTON 1944--My own dvd copy became pixilated at 2 hours (out of 2 hours 25 minutes) so we had to make a purchase on Netflix (?) for $4.00 to watch the final half hour, which is a devastating ordeal. Bette Davis plays a vain, self centered woman who marries a rich man (Claude Rains) to keep her beloved brother (also vain and self centered!) out of prison, but she doesn't love him and treats him poorly with fanciful affairs in the open. Davis had many Oscar nominations, including this one, and she is something spectacular to behold. There are many great scenes, but one of my favorites involves her on a date with a gangster and they show up at night club where her husband is on a date with his secretary! GRADE---------------------A-
THE LETTER1940--Another Oscar nomination for Bette Davis in this insidious film noir about a woman who shoots her lover (first scene in the film) many times in the back, but then claims self defense. But there is a letter that might change a jury's mind. GRADE----------B+
MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS 2005--If you are a fan of the PBS series "THE DURRELLS of CORFU" which ran for about four years recently, then look for this made for British TV film that features all the characters from the Durrell family, and plays a lot like the TV series, but with different actors. Imelda Stanton plays Mrs. Durrell, and all the actors are terrific in their roles. GRADE-------B+
TO CATCH A THIEF 1955--There's a lot of Hitchcockian dialogue to wade through in between some dazzling suspense episodes, but Cary Grant is, well, Cary Grant, which means very smooth and handsome, and Grace Kelly is a spectacular beauty, almost as lovely as the French Riviera where the film was set. It may not be the best from Alfred Hitchcock, but even his lessor films are miles ahead of most film makers best. GRADE------------------B+
CITIZEN KANE 1941--A classic film that I first saw 50 years ago in Film Study in High School, and not since. I remembered literally nothing except the final bon fire at the end. The film holds up well and it made me appreciate the recent film MANK about the screenwriter and his efforts to write CITIZEN KANE. The art and set direction of MANK is certainly effective--strongly emulating the visuals of KANE. I saw it again because I had just seen MANK and was curious about whether it held up and it does, as far as that goes. Unfortunately I don't have much sympathy for Kane (and not much for Mankewicz either) so that does limit my enthusiasm for the film. GRADE------------B
THE IPCRESS FILE 1965--One of the earliest spy films to make much of a splash came just after the release of the first three James Bond thrillers-- in fact, the poster quotes a critic as saying "A thinking man's GOLDFINGER....." I don't think so, but I remembered enjoying it when it first came out and was thinking what a cool cat was this new comer Michael Caine. He went on to make two more sequels as secret agent Harry Palmer --FUNERAL IN BERLIN and THE BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN, both of which I will watch soon and report on them when I do. IPCRESS was a little slower this time around and I don't remember much from FUNERAL or BRAIN, but I am curious. GRADE-------B
HITCHCOCK/TRUFFANT 2015--These two directors sat down with a French/English interpreter to discus Hitchcock's films from the 1930's to his last films in the 1970's. It was a bit awkward to work thru the translations but there were many insightful comments and also views from some contemporary USA directors, and this documentary is a must see for any Hitchcock fan. GRADE-----B
TIG 2016--This documentary about standup comedian Tig Notaro features her story about her mother's sudden death, her breast cancer, her efforts at conception and her meeting the woman who would eventually become her wife, all with-in a one year span. It is a fascinating telling, full of horror and humor and love. GRADE---------B
THE GREAT RACE 1966--Director Blake Edwards (aka Mr Julie Andrews) had a way with sight gags and made sure to include at least one or two great gags in each scene in this long slap stick comedy which featured Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, and many others. Plot wise, the film is pretty funny, but nearly stops dead during a sequence during which the main characters are in a plot to overthrow the government of an obscure European country because the Lemmon character is a spitting image for the actual foppish king. That sequence, while having a few laughs, seems mostly an excuse to include a lengthy pie throwing scene, which picks up the action again.... GRADE-------------B
ESCAPE FROM RIO BRAVO 1953--William Holden, Eleanor Parker, John Forsythe, William Demerest and others star in this Western set during the Civil War. Holden and Forsythe are in love with Parker so it's mainly a macho standoff. Confederate soldiers being held at a Union Rio Bravo, try to escape but must deal with the hot desert, snakes, hostile Indians, and changing loyalties. GRADE---------------B-
THE STALKING MOON 1968--This western featuring Gregory Peck and a nearly wordless Eva Marie Saint has Peck escorting Saint (a white woman who was captured by Indians many years earlier) and her "half breed" son (fathered by the murderous Indian who is tracking her) to safety. Nicely sustained suspense. GRADE-----------B-
THE BOOKSELLERS 2019--Unusual documentary about New York City sellers who deal mostly in antique and rare books, and the people who buy them. Interviews include Parker Posey, Fran Lebowitz, Gay Talese, and many locals. Especially good if you are interested in this type of rare book. GRADE---------B-
ENDLESS NIGHT 1972--Film made from Agatha Christie novel features Hayley Mills, Brit Ekland , Hywel Bennett and George Sanders, about a newly wed in a new house that becomes suspicious for her life. The most interesting thing about it is the florid musical score by Hitchcock favorite Bernard Hermann. GRADE----------------B-
WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE 2018--Based on the Shirley Jackson 1962 novel, this film deals with an odd family who have a dreadful secret, and they live a lonely life, until a distant relative shows up to try to claim some of the estate. Either I saw this before and it left my mind, or I saw another version of this story many years ago, because I recognized every plot twist. Weird. With Taissa Farmiga, Sebastian Stan and a very calm Crispin Glover. GRADE-------------B-
ELVIS ELVIS ELVIS! I purchased a 5 film package of Elvis films, and enjoyed them all greatly!
BLUE HAWAII 1961--The Blue Hawaii title song sets the mood, and his hit I Can't Help Falling In Love With You is featured, plus wonderful settings and scenery, and a wedding. Angela Landsbury plays his goofy, racist mom, there's a bar fight scene, a teen tries to seduce him but he's too good for her, and overall I enjoyed this one very much. An all male beach bum band is always around when it's time to sing and there are over a dozen songs sung, all pretty decent. GRADE---------B+
FUN IN ACAPULCO 1963--The city sights steal the film, and Ursula Andress wears a great bikini, and there are cliff divers, Elvis dates two woman at the same time, and a smart little boy keeps Elvis busy with a lot of (singing) jobs, with a great Mariachi band always around for the back up. Very easy to watch. GRADE---------B
G.I. BLUES 1961--This was the first film I watched, and I hated the first 20 minutes so much I almost turned it off. Finally they get away from training drills and coy all male showers, and into Frankfurt night life, and Juliet Prowse shows up as the "love" interest. There's a distasteful contest about who can spend the night with her first and Elvis is first up. However Prowse is too classy to fall for such a contest--she's too busy dancing in a night club and avoiding leering male patrons, and Elvis is too much the gentleman to treat her such, so this contest is forgotten for much of the film, thankfully. There's a charming song w/ Elvis singing to a wooden female puppet (Wooden Heart song) and by the final scenes I was really smiling and enjoying this film. GRADE----------------B
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS 1962--The big song in this one is "Return to Sender, Address Unknown" but every song was pleasant (and short) enough. Once again Elvis has two women to balance (one is Stella Stevens) and he always has a scene or two in all these films with children--this one has siblings and they sing a charming song with him. GRADE----------B-
THE ROUSTABOUT 1964--Barbara Stanwyck adds some gravatis as a carnival owner who hires Elvis to work as a stage hand, but of course his singing is discovered and proves a big draw. He also falls for the daughter of a cranky ex-alcoholic who hates him and makes his life miserable. The daughter is not very interested in Elvis, either, despite his constant (and annoying) attentions. This film is very dark compared to the others I saw, and carnival life portrayed as tough and dirty. The songs are ok, but given the grim atmosphere the film didn't move me in spite of a (false) happy ending. GRADE-------C+
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THE LIQUIDATOR 1965--I wanted to like this film more than I did--it's a spoof of spy films where the always charming Rod Taylor is recruited to be a killer of rogue spies and other bad guys. He enjoys the perks and money, but hires out the gruesome details of murder to a paid hit man. Some times funny, sometimes dull and tiresome, this film screams to be remade starring someone like Rowan Atkinson (in Johnny English mode).....The cast includes Trevor Howard, Jill St. John, Wilfrid Hyde White and David Tomlinson.
LOST HORIZON 1972--I've never seen the original version from 1937, but after seeing this one I can understand why it is so popular. The plot has a plane of strangers hi-jacked to Shangri-la deep in the mountains of Tibet. There is a perfect society that's peaceful and inspiring, and perhaps a little wierd. Unfortunately, this version was made as a musical, with music and lyrics by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and although some of the songs are lovely, some are so simple as to be instantly forgettable. The interesting cast includes Liv Ullmann, Sally Kellerman, Peter Finch, Bobby Van, George Kennedy, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Charles Boyer, John Gielgud and others. Some scenes were good, some bad, and some so bad they were kind of wierd in a good way. For example-- There's a fertility dance that features nearly naked men wearing only an orange diaper and twirling an orange ribbon flag. Unbelievable! GRADE-------------------C+
